Hand-truck



(No Model.)

J. PLEUKHARP. HAND TRUCK N Patented Mar, 3, 1896.

ATTOHNEZA? UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES PLEUKHARP, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

HAND-TRUCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 555,584, dated March 3, 1896.

I Application filed July 3, 1895. Serial No. 554,869. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES PLEUKHARP, of Oolumbus,in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented an Improved Truck, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a hand-truck for use in factories, Warehouses, mills, &c., which shall be lighter, cheaper, and simpler in construction than those usually employed; one which is easier to handle and more convenient in loading and unloading, and one which shall occupy very little floor-space when not in use, and one which by its construction permits of a number of such trucks being nested together when not in use, and thereby saving a great deal of floor-space.

A further object is to provide means in its construction whereby a strong and durable truck can be produced, having rigidity in all the assembled parts, and yet can be readily knocked down for shipment and set up again when received-by the purchaser.

With these various objects in view-my invention consists essentially in making the truck-frame after the manner of the old-fashioned saw-buck, the upper ends of the crossed side beams being made longer than the lower ends, whereby they are adapted to receive and hold the load, and also serve as handles, while the lower ends serve as feet and are preferably provided with wheels to facilitate transportation- My invention consists further in the peculiar manner of connecting the crossed side beams, and also in the novel construction and combination of the various parts.

In the drawings hereunto annexed and forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view of myimproved truck. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section thereof. Fig. 3 shows the' manner of nesting a number of such trucks. Figs. 4 and 5 show details, and Fig. 6 a modification.

In the practical construction of my truck I employ the side beams A A, which are arranged in pairs, to cross each other at any desired angle, and securely bolted together by means of the bolts B B. These cross side beams are secured together by means of the cross-braces G 0, preferably constructed of cast-iron or other suitable metal. These crossbraces O are formed with flanges or shoulders c, which are arranged at an angle suitable to receive the side beams A, one side beam resting upon one flange or shoulder, while the other side beam rests upon the other shoulder, and these cross-braces are securely connected with each other by means of the tie rods or bolts D and the nuts (I, and as one of the cross-braces is arranged upon one side of the side beams, and the other cross-braces upon the opposite side of said sidebeams, it will be seen that when said braces are securely connected with each other by means of the tie rods or bolts a rigid frame will be provided.

The Wheels E can be arranged upon the lower ends of one or both sets of the side beams, but in practice I prefer to arrange them only upon one end, using the other end as feet for the truck to rest upon. These wheels may be secured in any suitable manner, but that now used by me consists in attaching bearing-blocks F to the ends of the side beam, which blocks carry an axle F, upon the ends of which are mounted the wheels E.

The handles K may be formed upon either or both ends of the truck and wheels attached as desired to make eithera sliding or wheeled truck.

The completed truck is composed only of the four wooden pieces,four bolts and two cast braces,and rollers are added as desired. To make the truck knockdown the bolts D D have only to be removed, and replaced in order to set it up again.

The common form of all factory trucks now in use is that of a platform resting on rollers and provided with standards and sides, ac-

cording to the character of the material it is intended to hold. Handles are usually provided for hauling them about or they may be pushed by the standards. These trucks are cumbersome, occupying a large part of the floor-space in many factories, and are always in the way. To load them to advantage, most articles must be carefully piled, while in unloading most of the weight must be lifted from near the floor.

In my form of truck the handles are in the best position possible to be readily grasped and the load easily moved. By stooping only slightly the handles are grasped by the workman, who lifts the back feet of the truck from the floor in raising himself to an erect position, throwing the most of the weight over the rollers on the front feet, in which position the loaded truck may be easily moved about.

The side beams of the frame in my form of trucks, taking the place of both the standards and platform, makes it much lighter and readily handled in itself. By reason of its form little care need be taken by the workman in loading, the pieces falling readily into place. The bulk of the load coming within easy reach of the workman also facilitates both the loading and unloading of the truck, overcoming the necessity of stooping and lifting the most of the weight from near the floor. The form also assists in the unloading, as it is"easier to lift a load from an inclined position than from a horizontal.

By practical use I have found that this form of truck takes up much less space in the factory when loaded than the old form, being less cumbersome and more convenient to get around, while when not in use by reason of their form they will nest together in out-ofway corners and not obstruct the floor-space, an item of great importance. Its simplicity, taken in connection with the fact that much less material is used in its construction, makes it much cheaper than any other form of truck now in use. By reason of the action of the braces when secured together, in connection with the crossed side pieces or beams, the

parts are all made very rigid and the truck strong and durable.

It will thus be seen that I produce a truck which is strong and durable, and which is much lighter, simpler, cheaper, easier handled, more convenient in loading and unloading, and economical of floor-space than the form of truck now in use, possessing rigidity of the parts,while being readily knocked down and set up.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a truck, the combination with the side beams, arranged in pairs, crossing each other at an angle, the cross-braces having flanges thereon at an angle to receive the crossed side beams, and the tie rods or bolts for connecting said cross-braces, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a truck, the combination with the side beams, arranged as described, of the cross-braces having the flanges or shoulders to receive said side beams, the tie rods or bolts connecting the said cross -braces, the bearing-blocks upon the lower ends of one set of side beams, the axle journaled therein, and the wheels mounted upon the end of said axle, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

J AMES PLEUKIIARP. Vitnesses:

DAVID (J. EVANS, CHAs. V. PLEUKHARP. 

